Laurie Baratti travel tips

Planning a vacation can be an exhilarating experience, but amid the excitement lies the lurking threat of scams that are just waiting to prey on unsuspecting travelers.

Virgin Voyages, renowned for its innovative approach to cruising, is set to revolutionize onboard connectivity and elevate its included Wi-Fi offering by becoming the first cruise line to incorporate SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO service. 

Holland America Line is charting a course for adventure with its 2026 Grand World Voyage—one of its most ambitious ever, promising an unparalleled travel experience for adventurers eager to explore the entire globe. The company’s president, Gus Antorcha, announced the details of this epic voyage to guests sailing the current 2024 Grand World Voyage aboard Zuiderdam, which is presently positioned between Okinawa and Tokyo.

Australia’s flag carrier, Qantas, was forced to replace three separate flights from Melbourne to Sydney with an Airbus A380 superjumbo jet on Friday—a plane which is typically reserved for long-haul international flights. 

Florida’s high-speed rail company, Brightline, is running a promotional sale for President’s Day weekend only, with an enticing deal for group travelers aiming to explore the Sunshine State.

In a testament to Croatia's commitment to sustainable tourism, Minister Nikolina Brnjac has been honored with the Kristofor Medal by Europe’s foremost automobile club, ADAC, and the German Automobile Club, acknowledging the country's remarkable achievements in this field.

The latest publicly available scheduling data indicates that American Airlines has removed Tel Aviv from its flight schedule until at least October 2024. The decision comes in the wake of the notorious terrorist attack launched by Hamas on Southern Israel on October 7, 2023. 

Amid seemingly endless economic uncertainties, travelers worldwide are still demonstrating a steadfast determination to pursue their wanderlust while keeping a close eye on their budgets.

Exciting updates have emerged about the much-anticipated "world-first" Wizard of Oz land slated to debut this year at Warner Bros. Movie World, located in Australia 's Gold Coast region. Part of a $40 million upgrade, the colorful new land is set to replace the previous Arkham Asylum area and open sometime in 2024, according to Daily Mail Australia. Its’ being touted as the world’s first Wizard of Oz-themed land.

The industry’s most innovative host agency, Avoya Travel, has just unveiled its highly anticipated calendar of events for 2024, offering a blend of in-person gatherings and virtual experiences aimed at empowering Independent Agencies within the Avoya Travel Network (IAs) with enhanced networking opportunities and educational resources.

The Greek government has just reopened an ancient palace where the well-known conqueror Alexander the Great ascended to the throne as King of Macedonia roughly 2,400 years ago. 

The U.S. hotel industry is gearing up for a robust year ahead, with a notable surge in construction projects and renovation activities. Fresh insights from Lodging Econometrics (LE) highlight the burgeoning growth trajectory of the sector.

Following Friday’s incident aboard an Alaska Airlines flight—in which part of a Boeing 737 Max 9 jet’s wall blew out in mid-air, rapidly depressurizing the cabin and requiring an emergency landing—the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive (EAD).   

Both to bolster their local economies and as a means of combatting overtourism, an increasing number of global destinations are charging tourists taxes or fees just for visiting. You’ll frequently find them tacked onto your hotel bill, but sometimes they’re collected immediately upon arrival.

For those who live with celiac disease or a significant degree of gluten intolerance, the vacation planning process includes an extra complication: ensuring that dining options compatible with a gluten-free (GF) diet plan will be readily available.

One major expedition cruise line's ship was left without power for a time after being struck by a rare rogue wave at sea Thursday. 

If, somehow, you’re still looking for a spot to spend Christmas or the final week of 2023, the personal-finance website WalletHub’s latest report has some important insights for you. It reviewed data on the nation’s 100 largest cities to find out which are simultaneously the most festive and affordable for celebratory getaways this Christmas season.

Alaska Airlines’ proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines, announced earlier this week, has the potential to alter the existing U.S. air travel landscape significantly. Whether that would prove to be for better or worse remains to be seen, but plenty of experts are already weighing in with predictions.

Making its entrance into the booming all-inclusive sector, Marriott Hotels is joining Marriott International’s All-Inclusive by Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, beginning with an eagerly anticipated new resort in ever-popular Cancun, Mexico.

A sweeping storm system is impacting much of the United States on this, the final day of the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel weekend. Nearly 14 million people found themselves under various winter weather alerts on Sunday, according to The New York Times.

These days, there are many travel companies out there that boast wonderful luxury offerings, but there are some brands whose names have become completely inseparable from the very concepts of style, class, sophistication and supreme indulgence.